MnTAP

As part of our December MnTAP Newsletter, we're so excited to share our interview with Ahnika Seifert. She shares shares how the UMN developed and grew its compost and recycling program, which recently achieved its first-ever zero waste event at Farm Aid 40 held at Huntington Bank Stadium!

Find her interview here: http://www.mntap.umn.edu/resources/publications/source/december-2025/

To learn more about how MnTAP can help you implement some of the tools and activities that Ahnika discusses, contact Jon Schroeder (Sustainable Materials Management Specialist) at [email protected].

MnTAP Solutions is out (http://www.mntap.umn.edu/wp-content/uploads/simple-file-list/Publications/Solutions/Solutions-2025.pdf)! This publication highlights the successful projects from the 2025 MnTAP Intern Program. By implementing the recommendations identified by the 17 interns, host companies could realize the following annual benefits:

🚿 141,000,000 gallons of water (saving $86,300)
🔌 1,930,000 kWh electricity (saving $200,000)
🔥 593,000 therms of energy (saving $357,000)
☣️ 1,800,000 pounds of solid and hazardous waste (saving $1,170,000)
🧪 216,000 pounds of chemicals (saving $294,000)
🏭 524,000 pounds of air emissions (saving $4,900)
💵 $2,420,000 annually

We hope that as you read about the 2025 MnTAP intern projects and the results achieved, you are inspired to apply now for a 2025 MnTAP Intern at YOUR facility. Learn how your company can benefit from having an intern at your site to maximize resource efficiency, increase energy efficiency, reduce costs, and prevent pollution.

🔗 Learn more here: http://www.mntap.umn.edu/interns/business/
🔗 Apply here: http://www.mntap.umn.edu/interns/business/application/

Next Wednesday at 11:00 AM CDT, join Jon Vanyo from MnTAP, Graeme Miller from the US DOE Central Onsite Energy TAP, and Anthony Fryer from the Minnesota Department of Commerce for a conversation on how large energy users can fully utilize no-cost technical and financial resources at the state and federal level. This conversation would be useful to manufacturing plants, processing facilities, wastewater plants, and other energy-intensive operations.

🔗 Learn more here: https://campaignlp.constantcontact.com/em/1102836658642/76adf97f-f2fd-45b6-864e-38de9422caea
🔗 Register here: https://uic.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_UmS7ATLyQvC-L5FFJdjXGQ #/registration

MnTAP's 2024 Impact Report is out!

http://www.mntap.umn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Impact-2024-Interactive.pdf

Set your calendars for Tuesday!

MnTAP's 2024 Impact report is set to release on June 17th. We’re proud to have such a dedicated team who are devoted to reducing pollution at the source and helping organizations and businesses thrive while using less water, energy, and other natural resources.

Great funding opportunity!

The MPCA has established the $5.6 million Industrial Facility Air Toxic and Criteria Emission Reduction grant. This unique, one-time opportunity is designed to provide project funding to regulated air pollution emitting facilities for pollution control equipment and/or process improvements that result in reduced air pollution emissions within Environmental Justice areas of concern or within 1 mile of a designated EJ area. This grant will allow Minnesota businesses to be innovative and go beyond existing air quality regulations to help create a cleaner, heathier Minnesota. https://www.pca.state.mn.us/grants-and-loans/industrial-facility-air-toxic-and-criteria-emission-reduction-grant

The refrigeration industry is changing, now with new federal rules around HFCs!

Join a no-cost, in-person training on how to stay ahead of regulatory change and what you can do right now here: https://www.pca.state.mn.us/events-and-meetings/refrigeration-management-training-for-food-retailers-2024-11-12

The 2024 Intern Season has officially begun!

Apply now to host a MnTAP sustainable chemistry intern! Businesses can benefit from the focused project solutions offered by our interns — typically junior or senior undergrads in chemistry, engineering, or related technical fields — with MnTAP or Minnesota Pollution Control Agency funds underwriting most of the host’s labor costs for three summer months. Businesses should apply by January 31, 2024: http://www.mntap.umn.edu/interns/business/

We are to announce that Kelsey Klucas has been named the new Director of the Minnesota Technical Assistance Program MnTAP.

Read the announcement at https://z.umn.edu/kelsey-klucas